Michael Worch is the principal advisor at Worch Financial Group, LLC, an independent firm based in Rockville, MD. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has nine years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at The Financial Xchange and 1939 Capital, LLC. Worch is also a licensed insurance agent and dedicates a significant portion of his practice to insurance sales. Worch Financial Group serves individual and high-net-worth clients, providing financial planning, portfolio management through third-party money managers, and access to pooled investments. The firm emphasizes fundamental analysis and uses both long- and short-term trading strategies, often implementing investment solutions via referrals rather than direct discretion over client accounts.

Kevin Bernard is a financial advisor at Pivot Capital Management, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 credentials and has worked in various roles at firms including Avantax Insurance Agency and Solomon Edwards. In addition to his advisory work, he is a licensed CPA and serves as Director of Assurance and Federal Practice at a public accounting and consulting firm, as well as managing member and CEO of a bookkeeping, tax preparation, and consulting firm. Pivot Capital Management provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm customizes investment strategies using a broad range of asset classes and employs both discretionary and non-discretionary account management tailored to client suitability and changing circumstances.

Stephen Berube is the sole advisor at Echo Creek Capital, LLC, an independent investment advisory firm based in Rockville, MD. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 27 years of industry experience. Berube has led Echo Creek Capital since 2013. Echo Creek Capital manages discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios for individual and institutional clients, focusing on tailored investment strategies that combine fundamental and technical analysis. The firm utilizes a range of instruments including equities, fixed income, ETFs, derivatives, and option strategies, and incorporates borrowing and margin as part of its approach.

Christopher Ruspi is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with 36 years of industry experience. He has been with Applied Financial Wisdom since 2012 and also maintains an affiliation with LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory work, he owns a travel blog. Applied Financial Wisdom provides discretionary and non-discretionary asset management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement-plan allocation services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and business entities. The firm’s investment approach is based on a proprietary top-down forecast that incorporates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, utilizing sector rotation, ETFs, individual equities, fixed income, and, when appropriate, options and margin strategies.

Wenhai Tu is a financial advisor at FortuneNavi Capital Inc. with seven years of industry experience. He has held his current position since 2016. FortuneNavi Capital Inc. provides financial planning and discretionary investment management primarily for pooled vehicles and institutional-type clients such as family offices, retirement plans, endowments, foundations, trusts, and high-net-worth individuals. The firm employs Modern Portfolio Theory and fundamental analysis to construct portfolios, using model portfolios, mutual funds, ETFs, options, and margin transactions, and it conducts quarterly reviews and rebalancing aligned with client objectives and risk tolerances.

Robert Allen is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 22 years of industry experience. He has been the principal at Allen Investment Management since 2014. Allen Investment Management serves individual investors, foundations, charitable organizations, businesses, and pension/profit-sharing plans by providing discretionary investment supervisory services combined with integrated financial planning. The firm emphasizes a value-oriented, long-term investment approach supplemented by active sector rotation or limited short-term trades and manages roughly $27.1 million in discretionary client assets across approximately 41 client relationships.

Sean Defrehn is a financial advisor at DeFrehn Consulting with 9 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Triad Advisors, Inc. and OSAIC. Outside of financial advising, he teaches hunter safety classes for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. DeFrehn Consulting is an independent firm serving clients from Adamstown, MD.

Jorge Cortes is the sole advisor at Terrafort Capital LLC, an independent firm based in North Bethesda, MD. He holds a Series 65 designation and has five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at the Maryland State Treasurer's Office, United Nations Capital Development Fund, IDB Invest, and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration. Terrafort Capital serves both individual and institutional clients, offering discretionary investment management, financial planning, and co-advisory services. The firm combines third-party model access with direct portfolio management across traditional and alternative asset classes and provides additional services such as Outsourced CIO support and pension consulting.

Jonathan Peyton is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience. He is the principal of Different Investments, LLC, where he has worked since 2016 and previously held roles at firms including USAA Financial Planning Services and LPL Financial. Outside his advisory work, he is involved in business consulting, publishing educational content, and managing several entrepreneurial ventures. Different Investments, LLC provides discretionary investment management and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business clients. The firm emphasizes comprehensive planning including divorce consulting, exit planning, and special-needs planning, and utilizes various analytical techniques to tailor portfolio allocations for both individual and institutional clients.

Wesley Brown is a financial advisor with Remnant Wealth in Gaithersburg, MD, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses. He has 10 years of industry experience, including prior roles at Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance, Nationwide Insurance, and Ohio National Financial Services. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in property and casualty insurance sales. Remnant Wealth provides investment and advisory services focused on pooled vehicles and institutional-style engagements. The firm offers portfolio management, wealth management, financial planning, and educational seminars, employing a non-discretionary approach with a variety of securities and multiple methods of analysis tailored to client objectives.

Christopher Williams is a financial advisor at Capital Fiduciary Advisors in Ashburn, VA, holding a Series 66 designation with 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at Capital Fiduciary Advisors since 2011, including a period at Andersen from 2016 to 2021. Capital Fiduciary Advisors provides wealth advisory and portfolio management services to high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, and institutional clients such as pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm offers personal financial planning and uses a formal due-diligence process to select third-party investment managers, supporting clients with institutional-style reporting and educational seminars.

Darren Straniero is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at OnPlane Financial Advisors, an independent firm he has led since 2018. Prior to founding OnPlane, he worked for Park Ave Securities and Guardian Life Insurance for ten years each. OnPlane Financial Advisors serves individual clients and families, providing comprehensive financial planning and asset management primarily through virtual meetings. The firm employs a passive, index-oriented investment strategy and uses a fixed retainer fee model rather than percentage-of-assets billing.

Andrew Hamill is a CFA® charterholder with experience at Foxgrover Investment Partners since 2025, Atlantic Union Bank since 2021, and Wells Fargo from 2011 to 2021. He is based in Gaithersburg, MD. Foxgrover Investment Partners provides portfolio management and personalized financial planning to individuals and high-net-worth clients, using fundamental analysis, modern portfolio theory, and quantitative methods to inform investment decisions. The firm offers both non-wrap and wrap fee programs, managing portfolios with discretion based on clients’ investment policy statements.

Wesley Watkis is the sole advisor at The W & W Group LLC in Rockville, MD, with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and previously worked at Global Brokerage Services, Inc. and World Capital Brokerage, Inc. Outside of advisory services, he provides consulting for an information technology firm and operates as an independent insurance agent. The W & W Group delivers customized investment advisory and portfolio management services to individuals, trusts, estates, and retirement plans, typically without a firm-level account minimum. The firm employs a long-term investment approach informed by fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary management along with a wrap-fee program that consolidates transaction and custodial costs.

Bradley Piesco is the managing principal of Magpie Consulting LLC, an independent advisory firm based in Leesburg, VA. He holds the CFP® and ChFC® designations and has 16 years of industry experience. Piesco has led Magpie Consulting since 2007. Magpie Consulting LLC provides fee-only asset management and financial planning services to individual clients, including high-net-worth and private investors. The firm uses a disciplined financial planning process and constructs diversified portfolios mainly with exchange-traded funds, offering both discretionary and nondiscretionary management options.

Melanie Brophy is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 12 years of experience in the financial services industry. She has worked at Next Play Financial Solutions, LLC since 2018 and previously spent five years with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Next Play Financial is an independent, fee-only advisory firm serving individual and high-net-worth clients with investment management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes passive strategies using diversified index funds and ETFs, supplemented by fundamental analysis and select third-party managers.

Mark Reges is a financial services associate at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he joined the team in 2021. In his role, Mark focuses on managing team operations and is responsible for client servicing, ensuring timely responses to client requests. He also supports business development, relationship management, and contributes to wealth management planning. A native of Potomac, Maryland, Mark graduated from Miami University with a bachelor's degree in economics. Outside of his professional responsibilities, he pursues personal interests in sculpting and painting and enjoys hiking along the Potomac River.

Rahul Aggarwal is the sole advisor at Aris Alpha LLC, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Accenture Federal Service and several other firms. Aris Alpha LLC provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals and high-net-worth clients, employing fundamental analysis and a long-term trading approach. The firm offers a broad range of investment options and manages accounts on a discretionary basis, tailoring strategies to each client’s risk tolerance and objectives.

Jessie Rancourt is the principal of Opportunity Cost Investors LLC and holds the Series 65 designation with four years of industry experience. Prior to founding the firm in 2019, Jessie worked at Harris Miller Miller & Miller and UFA, Inc., and concurrently serves at the Federal Aviation Administration. Jessie is also the owner of Opportunity Cost Media, which produces finance-related content on YouTube. Opportunity Cost Investors LLC is a solo registered investment adviser that provides discretionary portfolio management to retail clients, primarily focusing on a fundamental, value-oriented investment approach targeting deeply discounted, high-quality public equity securities. The firm manages a small number of concentrated portfolios and operates an affiliated media outlet aligned with its investment views.

Yuan He is a financial advisor at HY Financial LLC with 15 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at the General Services Administration since 2019 and the Food and Drug Administration from 2015 to 2019. Outside of his advisory role, he is a limited partner in two small businesses operating entertainment venues in Gaithersburg, Maryland. HY Financial is a small independent registered investment adviser serving individual clients with discretionary portfolio management and limited financial planning services. The firm combines fundamental and technical analysis with a focus on qualitative business evaluation and low turnover, and it monitors accounts regularly while providing written financial plans.